A Not So Royal Christmas

This is a familiar genre for Hallmark. There's a historical kingdom or castle who really does it up big for Christmas, but things are not exactly on the up-and-up. In this go around a journalist shows up trying to get an interview with a Count. Honestly, I can't even remember the name of the place, not that it's critical to the story. Brooke D'Orsay (who I'll always remember from Royal Pains) plays our journalist, who isn't entirely honest about why she's there. She's great as usual. The royals scheme too by trotting out Will Kemp, who might be the best looking groundskeeper in all the land, to play the never-been-seen Count. This movie works, but it doesn't break any new ground. The ending is rather cringy, but not a giant surprise.

Well, it was a clever movie and the opposite of the Prince and the Pauper. It liked something. I don't know if it was chemistry, costuming, writing, or the sets. But it was lacking something and all I could focus on at the ball scene was that that green dress was begging for a necklace!!!

Their costuming department is seriously lacking, I've seen that multiple times in multiple movies. Give the women some proper respectable jewelry!

I do enjoy these Hallmark movies because they are so predictable and therefore easy on my anxiety as they always have a good ending but as I said, previously, this one lacked something. Creativity maybe? I'm not sure.

Brooke D'Orsay (Charlotte)'s green dress at the end was gorgeous and I thought she and Will Kemp (Adam) played off of each other very well.

Adam has returned home for a short term position as gardener at the home of the Count in the fake land of Sorhagen, Nordin. There he is mistaken by the Royal gossip columnist Charlotte as the Count of Sorhagen. The Royal advisers ask Adam to play along as the real count abdicated his title six months prior...and they haven't figured out what to do yet and are worried about how it will hurt the local economy. Charlotte also lies claiming to be from a more legitimate publication instead of her gossip rag in order to secure an exclusive interview with the very reclusive count.

Will both their lies come out? And will their burgeoning feelings hold up to the truth?

I love Will Kemp and thought he was great. Both he and Brooke D'Orsay played well off of each other. My only real complaint is that there are so many real places, with real royalty...it is a shame that they are still using fake kingdoms and customs when the real ones are infinitely interesting. I liked it, but I think I would place it on a mid tier of the Hallmark Holiday films, a watch and delete.

This was definitely one of Hallmarks worst holiday films this festive season. I wanted to like it because royal element does ad nicely to the Christmas season, but the plot was just so ridiculous and implausible even for Hallmark standards. Also the supporting cast and the choice of supporting actors was not very natural and realistic. The fling between the leads was also rushed and lacked in chemistry.

Basically the only thing that kept that film from fully falling apart is always wonderful Will Kemp. He is always magnificent, whether he stars in big movies, expensive shows or just cheap little flicks like this one and it shows. When he is on screen he simply has that special radiance and in this one he added such a lovely comical thread to his character with lovely comedic timing. He is one of those actors that know what expression to put on in every scene even when he is not in the focus of the camera.

He and Julian Morris and Luke MacFarlane do deserve better films at Hallmark. The movie also had lovely costumes, which is not always the case at Hallmark. Would I watch it ever again, no. Would I not watch it if I knew it was this bad, no I would not. Did I fall asleep a few times watching it, yes I did.

I always look forward to a Hallmark movie with Will Kemp, but I must say this one was disappointing. I think Will Kemp was great, but there is absolutely NO chemistry between him and Brooke D'Orsay (who I must admit is not one of my favorite Hallmark actresses although I have nothing against her). The story has nothing romantic to it, I don't get why Charlotte and Adam would actually fall in love. It makes no sense, they're just lying to each other all the time, they want different things and are not above using each other to get it. And yet I actually found the story very flat : no great romantic moment, no great enmity eather. I so wanted to like this movie !